The Occupy movement received its fair share of criticism here in the United States, but in Greece may have a longer legacy; recent polls show Greeks favor the leftist Syriza party in the upcoming Jan. 25 elections.
The Syriza party, led by Alexis Tsipras, is focused on getting Greece out of austerity measures, oppose cuts to pension and social security, and support ecological and feminist movements.
The party has drawn criticism from current conservative Prime Minister Antonis Sanaras as well as other conservative financial and political leaders who fear Syriza will create a stalemate with lenders and lead to Greece leaving the European Union. Samaras has warned of chaos and bankruptcy should Syriza win the election.
“The only thing they haven’t said yet is that if Syriza comes to power it will take your children and your wives,” said Tsipras in a recent speech.
Members of Tsipras’ own party see things differently.
“Not since the foundation of the modern Greek state in 1821 has the left been in power,” said Attica regional prefect Rena Dourou in an interview with The Guardian. “The left can, and will, bring a breath of fresh air.”
Dourou points out the difference in viewpoints may come from policies that have negatively impacted one economic class far more than the other: Dourou does not come from a privileged background, while members of the more conservative parties typically do. Members of the Syriza party are unemployed youth, middle-aged professionals hit hard by economic hardships and elderly civil war refugees.
In order to win the election, the Syriza party will need to earn 36 to 40 percent of the votes. Smaller parties that fail to garner three percent or more can also lend their share to parties of their choosing.
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Sources:
http://www.salon.com/2015/01/11/occupy_may_be_about_to_win_its_first_national_election_in_greece/
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/13/syriza-rena-dourou-greece-fresh-air
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/14/us-greece-election-poll-idUSKBN0KN1QJ20150114
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The ONLY real solution is to get out of Statism completely, which is founded on the belief in authority. As long as people have this belief and our societies are structured around authority (inequality) nothing will change for the better in the long term.
Please read the book “The Most Dangerous Superstition” by Larken Rose, ASAP!!
You can find a free PDF via google.